Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa

US Response to Crisis in the Horn of Africa

Across the eastern Horn of Africa, more than 11 million people are now in need of emergency assistance to survive. Secretary Clinton expressed her concern for the humanitarian emergency after the announcement by the United Nations stating a famine is underway in parts of Somalia. In a statement she said, “The United States -- in close coordination with the international community -- is working to assist more than 11 million people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, KeSouth Sudan – A B eginning Open Government Partnership Smart T raveler iTunes App Keeps Citizens Updated nya, and Somalia, who are in dire need of assistance. To anticipate growing needs, the United States government has worked with our partners over the last year to pre-position food in the region, increase funding for early warning systems, and strengthen nonfood assistance in the feeding, health, water and sanitation sectors. In addition to emergency assistance, this administration’s Feed the Future program is working to break the cycle of hunger once and for all by addressing the root causes of hunger and food insecurity through innovative agricultural advances.”

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson addressed the crisis situation during a special press briefing and explained, “We have seen the recent reports that Al-Shabaab claims that it will finally allow international humanitarian aid into areas under its control. We are consulting with international organizations that have worked in these areas to verify if there has been any real change in Al-Shabaab’s policies that would allow us and others to operate freely and without taxation imposed for humanitarian deliveries. Al-Shabaab’s current policies are wreaking havoc and are not helping Somalis living in the south central part of that country. ” Information on the Crisis in the Horn of Africa»How You Can Help»

INTERNATIONAL

Principles for Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific

SHANGRI-LA, Hong Kong, July 25 – Leaving Indonesia and continuing her travel to Hong Kong, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Secretary Clinton delivered remarks underscoring U.S. economic leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. In her speech she urged listeners not to lose faith in the American model and remember the resilience of the United States. Secretary Clinton said, “I am confident that Congress will do the right thing and secure a deal on the debt ceiling, and work with President Obama to take the steps necessary to improve our long-term fiscal outlook. Through more than a century of growth, the American economy has repeatedly shown its strength, its resilience, and its unrivaled capacity to adapt and reinvent itself. And it will keep doing so.”

Secretary Clinton called on nations around the world to adhere to the same rules. She said, “Now, while the U.S. economy and those in the Asia-Pacific are well positioned to grow together, our success -- neither of ours -- is preordained. Prosperity is not a birthright, it’s an achievement. And whether we achieve it will be determined by how we answer a defining question of our time: How do we turn a generation of growth in this region into a century of shared prosperity?” Full Text»Secretary Clinton’s Travel Page»Dipnote Blog: Travel Diary»

India and the United States – A Vision for the Future

NEW DELHI, India, July 19 – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to New Delhi, India, where she delivered remarks at the Opening Session of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue. Secretary Clinton’s remarks covered several issues, including trade and investment, security cooperation and the completion of the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement. “Today, we will review what we have achieved together across a range of issues. On some, like education, energy, and science and technology, we have recently begun new projects or are about to do so,” Secretary Clinton said. “On others -- in particular, trade and investment, security cooperation and our civil nuclear agreement -- we have made progress and, if we redouble our efforts, we are poised to go even further.” Following the Strategic Dialogue, Secretary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna jointly addressed the media emphasizing the success of the partnership.

At the conclusion of her visit to New Delhi, Secretary Clinton delivered remarks on the Working Women’s Forum in Chennai, India, on July 20. The Secretary heralded the forum’s accomplishment and pledged to continue working on empowering women. “I want you to know that I have admired the work of the Working Women’s Forum for many years,” Secretary Clinton said. “In 1978, there were only 800 women members. Today, there are more than one million of you. I am honored to be here with you to celebrate your accomplishments in bringing micro-credit to women, in bringing healthcare and other services to women so they could have a better life for themselves and their children.”

Greece and the U.S. - Shared Challenges

ATHENS, Greece, July 17 – On the heels of her trip to Turkey, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stopped in Athens, Greece where she met with Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis. Discussions centered on the NATO coalition operations in Libya, the situation in Syria and other shared challenges. “We discussed our ongoing efforts in the NATO coalition operations to protect civilians and help the Libyan people claim a better future. Our diplomatic and military efforts are gaining momentum, and we are grateful for Greece’s engagement and support,” Secretary Clinton stated. “We also are concerned about what’s going on in Syria, and we have condemned the violence. And I appreciate Greece’s support in speaking strongly against the attack on our Embassy and the French Embassy in Damascus. We will work together as part of the international community to support a vision for a Syria with representative government, respect for civil liberties [and] equal protection for all citizens under the law.”

Secretary Clinton also joined Foreign Minister Lambrinidis in signing a Memorandum of Understanding between both governments to reduce the incentive for further pillage of Greece’s cultural heritage. “This agreement that we are signing today will protect Greece’s culturally significant objects even further from looting and sale on the international market. It will be illegal to import protected items from Greece into the United States unless they have been certified by the Greek authorities. And that will help reduce the incentive to illegally remove such objects in the first place.” Secretary Clinton/Foreign Minister Lambrinidis Full Remarks»Memorandum of Understanding Full Remarks»

Meeting of Fourth Libya Contact Group in Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey, July 15 – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton began her recent travel schedule with her participation in the fourth Libya Contact Group meeting in Turkey. “We heard from the Transitional National Council (TNC) about its plans for setting Libya on a path toward security and progress in the post-Qadhafi era,” Secretary Clinton told reporters at a news conference. “The assurances the TNC offered today reinforce our confidence that it is the appropriate interlocutor for the United States in dealing with Libya’s present and addressing Libya’s future. That is why I announced earlier that until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya.”

Additionally in Istanbul, Secretary Clinton also joined in a meeting for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIS) to advance the goal of promoting religious tolerance and freedom of expression across the globe. “No country, including my own, has a monopoly on truth or a secret formula for ethnic and religious harmony. This takes hard work and persistence and patience,” Secretary Clinton affirmed. “But wherever we come from and however we worship, all of us can do more in our own lives, in our positions of leadership, and in our communities, to bridge the divides that separate us.”

Secretary Clinton ended her trip to Istanbul by meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on July 16, 2011. Talks centered on ways to strengthen the U.S.-Turkey alliance. “Our partnership is rooted in a long history and a very long list of mutual interests, but most importantly it is rooted in our common democratic values,” Secretary Clinton remarked. “It is through the lens of this shared democratic tradition that the United States welcomes Turkey’s rise as an economic power, as a leader in the region and beyond, and as a valued ally on the most pressing global challenges.” Libya Contact Group Full Remarks»OIS Full Remarks»Secretary Clinton/Foreign Minister Davutoglu Full Remark»

South Sudan – A Beginning

WASHINGTON, DC, July 14, 2011 — Five days after the July 9 South Sudan Independence celebration, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson addressed the U.S. Institute of Peace. “South Sudan has achieved its independence, but it has not secured its future. First and foremost, Sudan and South Sudan must resolve outstanding issues between them,” he explained. “The recent fighting in Abyei and in the border state of Southern Kordofan has added additional complexities to the unresolved issues…Both the parties must return to the negotiating table. They must work to resolve these issues in the shortest possible timeframe. Allowing these issues to linger without resolution for too long could destabilize the future relationship between Sudan and South Sudan and lead to tensions and potentially renewed conflict.” US Institute of Peace Speech»Explanation of Vote To End Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan» Newest UN Member Blog»Amb. Rice Remarks at UN»

INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Open Government Partnerdship

WASHINGTON, DC, July 12 – The U.S. hosted the first high-level meeting of The Open Government Partnership (OGP), a new international initiative aimed at securing concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, increase civic participation and fight corruption. The OGP will also strive to harness new technologies to make government more open, effective, and accountable. A multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee for the OGP, co-chaired by the United States and Brazil, is comprised of government and civil society groups, representing countries from around the world, including Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. “...There is an undeniable connection between how a government operates and whether its people flourish,” Secretary Clinton said in remarks during the high-level meeting. “When a government invites its people to participate, when it is open as to how it makes decisions and allocates resources, when it administers justice equally and transparently, and when it takes a firm stance against corruption of all kinds, that government is, in the modern world, far more likely to succeed in designing and implementing effective policies and services. It is also more likely to harness the talents of its own people and to benefit from their ideas and experiences, and it is also more likely to succeed investing its resources where they are most likely to have the best return.” Full Text» The Open Government Partnership»Conversations With America: Open Government Partnership»Spurring International Momentum for Open Government»OpenGovPartnership.org»

Smart Traveler iTunes App Keeps Citizens Updated

WASHINGTON, DC, July 25 – Smart Traveler, the official State Department app for U.S. travelers, invites you to see the world. It includes easy access to frequently updated official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more. Information on the app comes from content that is also posted to www.state.gov and travel.state.gov . Please visit those websites for information on international travel, foreign policy, and the work of the U.S. Department of State. Download Smart Traveler»More Information»

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